Forgotten Wife: My Ex-Husband Regrets It After I Left novel Chapter 114

Sienna’s POV

I stared at Emily's face for a long moment, almost unable to believe the words that had just come out of her mouth. Her words were like a knife that had been sharpened for ages, then stabbed straight into my chest, slow, neat, but excruciatingly painful.

"Don't go back to that house, Sienna!" she had said, just like that, casually, as if she were talking about the weather.

I looked up, staring intently, my previously calm body beginning to tense. "What do you mean?" I asked quietly, trying to keep my voice steady even though my chest was already churning.

Emily leaned back in her chair, her sunglasses still lying on the table between us. Her lips curved into a small smile, the smile of someone confident because they felt they had all the cards in their hands.

My body felt stiff, as if the chair I was sitting in had trapped me, preventing me from moving. The sounds in the cafe seemed to fade, except for the faint clink of spoons, the laughter of children, and the whispers of conversation at other tables. But everything faded away, leaving only Emily and me. Her words hung in the air, pressing like dark clouds before a rain.

I looked down for a moment, trying to catch my breath. My hand holding the coffee cup felt cold, even though the liquid inside was still warm. Every muscle in my body was trying to restrain itself, to hold back the anger that threatened to surge out of me.

Emily sat across from me so relaxed, as if her words had just been a trivial comment. But I knew that every word that came out of her lips had been calculated, carefully thought out, and aimed precisely at my most vulnerable spot. She always knew how to strike at my most vulnerable spot.

My gaze shifted briefly toward the playground. Noah was still playing, laughing freely with his new friend, carefree, unaware of anything. The sight made my chest tighten slightly. How could someone say such a thing so lightly, while my son sat there, just a few feet away, believing the world was safe and simple?

I looked back at Emily. Her movements were graceful, her thin fingers touching the rim of the glass of juice that was beginning to fog up. She wasn't in a rush. She knew I would mull over her words, repeating them in my head over and over again. And she was right. The words spun like an evil spell, echoing in my ears, making me doubt every step I took.

My mind jumped back to last night, when I stood in that house with Liam. The image of Noah sleeping soundly, Liam's troubled face, and Emily's sudden arrival, bringing a storm. That house wasn't just a building. It was the place where I'd tried to regain my faith, the place where I'd tried to start over with my son, maybe even with his father. And now, Emily was trying to tear it all down with one simple sentence.

My hands clenched in my lap, trying to quell the trembling that was slowly creeping up. I could feel the heat spreading to my face, not from embarrassment, but from anger. Not just at Emily, but also at myself, who was still shaken by her words.

I straightened, refusing to appear vulnerable in front of her. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. But deep down, I knew those words would accompany me home tonight, would whisper in my ear as I tried to sleep, would resurface tomorrow morning as I stared at Noah's face.

Each second felt heavier. The cafe, once bustling with children's voices and the clinking of glasses, seemed to dim. There was only the throbbing in my temples and the rapid beating of my heart, echoing Emily's words.

I sat silently, staring blankly at the table, as if the tiny stain on the wooden surface could save me from the storm raging inside. But her words swirled endlessly. To her, everything I'd done to get back with Liam was nothing more than a mistake that would lead to new wounds. To her, my existence was temporary, a kind of pause before Liam returned to the embrace he believed was his true home.

My body tensed. I knew she was waiting for my reaction, waiting for a crack in my face, waiting for a sign that I was truly wavering. And indeed, there was a subtle tremor in my fingers, a tension in my shoulders that I couldn't hide. But I refused to give room for tears. Not in front of her.

Outside the window, the sun had risen higher, reflecting its bright, blinding light off the glass. Strangely, the light only served to contrast the darkness I felt in my chest. My gaze shifted toward the playground. Noah was still running around, his face full of laughter. That small shadow was the only thing keeping me from collapsing.

I took a deep breath, straightening myself slightly, trying to regain some of my remaining control. As if telling myself that none of this should shake the choice I'd made. However, I couldn't deny the small doubt that had arisen, jabbing at me from the darkest corners of my mind. What if Emily was right? What if what Liam felt was just habit, not love? What if I was just passing through, while his heart remained anchored elsewhere?

I held my cup of cold coffee, letting the bitter taste linger on my tongue. The taste seemed to align with what was building in my chest now.